Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) wary of the stranger on the side of Highway 146

There seem to be almost as many wild turkeys (Meleagris gallapavo intermedia) frequenting the campground at Pinnacles National Park as there are California quail (Callipepla californica) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). Usually they congregate in the vicinity in the mornings and evenings - turkeys, quail and deer alike. This was a very chilly morning and you can almost see the frost on the short-cropped grass. Adult male wild turkeys are such a feast for the eyes that I almost wish Ben Franklin had convinced his fellow founders to make the turkey our national bird rather than that scheming and thieving bald eagle ne'er-do-well. Of course, they have their downsides. They can be fairly ornery and apparently they ravage much of their current range within the state of California. I was unaware until recently that they are not native to the state, but rather were introduced from a more Texan range (thus the subspecies indicator - it is this subspecies introduced by California Fish and Game in the 1970's to enhance hunting opportunities) and are considered by many to be a pestilent invasive species. They're still too rare a sight for me to consider that way, since my SF Mission area is hardly swarming with them. These two are both toms as evidenced by their "beards" (those sort of erroneously stuck pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey tails dangling below their necks) and also the spurs sticking out on the back of their legs which they can use as formidable weapons. As is mostly usual, not much happens in this video, but I just like to stare at them while they stand still...and maybe watch that appendage atop their beaks rise and fall with their shifting moods.

Видео Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) wary of the stranger on the side of Highway 146 канала yawnthensnore